The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-04-23

| The old priests had now concluded; the
organs notes were heard again, and the
choir poured forth a volume Of sweet sounds
then those sounds died away. and all left
/ the holy place in the same order in which
they had entered it.
/ The young priest and the elder ones, with
some few others, repaired to the house of
the Unterwalds. where there was a table
| luxuriously spread for them, and some fine
old wine to drink.
| For the villagers, they went to the inn OF
| Volothol and there RECALLED themselves with
excellent cheer. They joked, and they
/ laughed loudly. At one of the tables sat
Vigil, the blacksmith. He was looking
very angry because he could not obtain a
seat near Franzi. The whole village knew
of his love for her. but no one for mo-
ment thought that Franzi would ever learn
to care for SO rough hammered fellow.
| BY ard by the mistress Of the inn
brought in an enormous oake--it was
termed the cake Of honor-which she
placed in the center of large table, that
all might view its ornaments, and read the
various notices it bore
! This cake, like the garland maids, is
part and parcel of the ceremony always OBJ
served in this part of Tyrol whenever a new
priest first enters upon the duties Of his
sacred calling. At its appearance the
people rise, select their partners, the music
is heard, and the dance begins
The young priest and his parents now
entered
The first to rise aud hurry off in search of
partner for the dance was Vigil. But
quick as he had been. he was too late. The
| old vicar. who had to present Albert with
his partner for the dance-the last he would
ever have-had been SO engaged in eating
slice of honor cake. that he had almost
forgotten his duty; and. when the recollec-
| ton Of what he had to do suddenly flashed
| across his memory, he had no time to seek
| the girl of the highest rank present, but in
his haste, took the nearest. 1t was Fmnzi.
AS the vicar presented her to Albert,
| Vigil rushed up with q flushed face aud
| wrathful looks.
But Franzi was so much astonished at
| the honor done her, that she saw nothing
of her would be lover.
Albert took her hand, the music burst
forth, and together they started of round
the room.
He felt as in dream as he held the girl
TO his side, and his feet kept time to the
enlivening strain. This was not like the
cad of his former life, he thought, but the
beginning of new one. Thrice he circled
the floor: then the young priest had done;
he dared dance no more; the rest Of the
duuCluS WIS loi tuo lldppy NoTIu.
He led his partner to seat by the now
vacant table. and filed two glasses, then
he took the bridegroom's wreath from
around his arm. and put it over her glass
like frame. AS his last partner in his last
dance, that wreath belonged to her now.
May you live long, reverend sir" Franzi
said, Ill broken voice. as she raised her
glass; and struck it against his.
"Thanksi How glad / am that You came
to the festival"
How could I stay away from it?" she
answered, artlessly. Il am very happy to
find myself SO kindly remembered by
you"
Did you think that should forget you,
Franzi?"
NO, sir. she replied, quietly.
But at first | did not know you"
All, that is very likely. You have been
away from Voiothol long time"
True. But it is not that. You are 30
changed-so tall" "And beautiful, +" he
| would have added, but the word was not
suffered to pass his lips.
At this moment Vigil placed himself OPP
posite to the two speakers, and, with his
back against the wall, stood wrathfully
watching them.
Franzis hand, which he had Just taken, and
if he were vexed because l am talking to
you. Is he your lover?" he added, feeling
reluctant to speak that word to her.
The maiden blushed. Il have no lover,
SIR" she answered. THAT is the black
| smiths son-Vigili He wants me to marry
him.
And will you marry him?"
What better can / do, reverend sirG
True, he rejoined. rising abruptly.
Farewell, Franz. Love and be happy.
Think sometimes of the time when we
were children together, and-of to- day.
And then he turned and walked slowly
away.
Vigil now approached Franzi, who was
watching her late companion as he disap-
peared amid the throng of guests.
So, growled the blacksmith, this is the
way in which YOU keep your promises?"
The damsel answered him very quickly.
L promised you the first dance and am
waiting for you.
"The first dance forsoothl How can that
be, when you have already been dancing?"
With his reverencel That was quite
another thing. and wholly apart from all
| others. But you are not my lover, and con-
| sequently have no business to assume these
airs toward me- If ! were already your
wife, you could not be more jealous of HE
than you are. But not even if you were q
| goldsmith would dance with you now"
| And SO saying, she started up from ner
| seat. and left him.
| Vigil raised his muscular right arm, and
| clenched his hand tightly.
"Chut, She's like the rest of the women
| folk, as giddy as a goose. I've good mind
TO think no more about her.. And with that
he seated himself ct the table, drew toward
him bottle of wine, and filled glass,
NH -nl la ON tr,nt Ffnl 81
drained at single draught.
When Albert quilted the side Of Franzi,
he Immediately and secretly left the inn, re-
| paired to his parents house, and sought his
| chamber. The dwelling was vacant, for all
| the domestics were making merry at the
festival with their master and mistress.
| Albert felt suddenly depressed. He knew
not wherefore, but he was unable to rest
| five minutes IN one place. He wandered
| out of one apartment into another, and
| wondered what had caused his unusual
restlessness of both body and mind.
| How little he had known his own heart
| when he thought he could bid adieu to the
world without one sigh of regret Some
thing had Just shone across his path like
blaze of lightning and he now saw what he
| had lost, which to think of, even, he re-
membered would be sin.
| He fell upon his knees, and besought
heaven to give him the strength he now SO
much required.
| Presently he was reused by musical
| sounds beneath his chamber window This
was the closing ceremony of the young
priests day of honor.
Meanwhile. Franz slept calmly. She did
not hear the dead march that was being
| played under Alberts easement. The moon
was shining through her narrow window
and across the girls fair face, opposite to
| which she had hung the bridegroom's
wreath which had been given her that day
| by Albert
| [To BE CONTINUED